Attacks on Voting Rights for 2012 Election

This report from the Brennan Center for Justice (NYU School of Law) – Voting Law Changes in 2012 – shows how newly passed and proposed legislation is threatening the voting rights of five million people. From requiring photo IDs to abolishing Election Day registrations, it would appear that concerted efforts are underway to disenfranchise a significant number of voters. A summary of state laws and bills as well as an overview of this report are available. In New Jersey, S2996 will require a photo ID for any election after January 1, 2012, regardless if a person had been previously registered and allowed to vote. A discussion of these attempts to make voting harder for certain groups can be found at the Diane Rehm Show (starting at the 10:21:05 mark); this article from The New York Times – “New State Rules Raising Hurdles at Voting Booth” – can be supplemented by the paper’s Voter Registration and Requirements page.